HomeMy WebLinkAboutCC ORD 2020-2482 Add Chapter 2.75 Election Campaign RegulationsORDINANCE NO. 2020 - 2482
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NATIONAL CITY
ADDING CHAPTER 2.75, TITLED, "ELECTION CAMPAIGN REGULATIONS",
TO THE NATIONAL CITY MUNICIPAL CODE
WHEREAS, in order to protect the integrity of the electoral process, and to
serve the best interests of the people of National City, it is the desire of the City Council to
adopt realistic and enforceable regulations applicable to political campaign contributions; and
WHEREAS, such regulations may be enacted pursuant to the authority granted
to the City by Article XI, Section 7 of the California Constitution, and are specifically authorized
by Sections 81013 and 85703(a) of the Government Code, found in the Political Reform Act
of 1974; and
WHEREAS, the regulations hereby enacted are intended to supplement the
provisions of state law with regard to the making, acceptance, expenditure, and reporting of
campaign contributions.
NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NATIONAL
CITY HEREBY ORDAINS AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. That Chapter 2.75 is added to the National City Municipal Code, to read
as follows:
CHAPTER 2.75
ELECTION CAMPAIGN REGULATIONS
Sections
2.75.010 Purpose and Intent
2.75.020 Definitions
2.75.030 Campaign Contributions — Limitations and Exclusions
2.75.040 Campaign Expenditures — Uncontrolled by Candidate or Committee
2.75.050 Retention of Records
2.75.060 Electioneering
2.75.070 City Measures -- Exemption
2.75.080 Duties of City Clerk
2.75.090 Effect of Receipt of Funds on Voting
2.75.100 Enforcement Authority
2.75.110 Enforcement — Criminal or Civil Liability
2.75.120 Enforcement — Administrative
2.75.130 Civil Actions by Residents
2.75.140 Time for Commencement of Actions
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2.75.010 Purpose and Intent. It is the purpose and intent of the City Council in
enacting this Chapter:
A. To place realistic and enforceable limits on the amounts of money that may be
contributed to political campaigns in City elections.
B. To preserve an orderly political forum in which individuals may express
themselves effectively.
C. To prevent the exercise by campaign contributors of potential undue or improper
influence over elected officials.
D. To promote participation in government and foster trust that the democratic
process is not subverted by affluent special interest groups.
E. To provide for the full and fair enforcement of the provisions of this chapter.
2.75.020 Definitions. For the purposes of this chapter, the words and phrases
used herein shall have the meanings ascribed to them by the Political Reform Act of
1974, Government Code Section 82000 et seq., except as follows:
A. "Candidate" applies to persons seeking an elective City office.
B. "City Election" means any primary, general, or special election, including
recall election, held within the City of National City, for elective City office.
C. "Committee" means a candidate's controlled committee or a committee formed
primarily to support or oppose a candidate, or a city general purpose committee
active only in the City.
D. "Contribution" shall have the same meaning as set forth in Government Code
Section 82015, but with respect to an election for City office, except that the
exclusion set forth therein for costs of a meeting or fund-raising event in the
home or office of the occupant shall be limited to costs of $1,000.00 or Tess.
E. "Controlled Committee" means a committee which is controlled directly or
indirectly by a candidate or which acts jointly with a candidate or controlled
committee in connection with the making of expenditures. A candidate controls
a committee if he or she, his or her agent, or any other committee he or she
controls, has a significant influence on the actions or decisions of the
committee.
F. "Electioneering" means the visible display or audible dissemination of
information that advocates for or against any candidate.
G. "Elective City Office" means member of the City Council, including the Mayor.
H. "Enforcement Authority" means the special counsel, officer, agent, or entity
designated by action of the City Attorney to enforce the provisions of this
chapter. Nothing in this chapter shall be construed as limiting the authority of
any law enforcement agency or prosecuting attorney from enforcing the
provisions of this chapter where such law enforcement agency or prosecuting
attorney otherwise has lawful authority to do so.
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"Expenditure" means a payment, a forgiveness of a loan, a payment of a loan
by a third party, or an enforceable promise to make a payment, unless it is clear
from the surrounding circumstances that it is not made for political purposes.
An expenditure is made on the date the payment is made or on the date
consideration, if any, is received, whichever is earlier.
J. "General Purpose Committee" shall have the same meaning as set forth in
Government Code Section 82027.5.
K. "Independent Committee" means a committee that receives contributions
or makes expenditures for the purpose of influencing or attempting to
influence a City election, which is not made with the cooperation,
consultation, or in concert with, or at the request or suggestion of, any
candidate or his or her committee, or any of their agents.
L. "Individual" means a natural person, proprietorship, firm, partnership, joint
venture, syndicate, business trust, company, corporation, limited liability
company, association, labor union, committee, and any other organization or
group of persons acting in concert, who meets the definition set forth in
Government Code Section 82047. "Individual" does not include a Political
Party Committee, a Political Action Committee, or an Independent Committee.
M. "Political Action Committee" means an organization that pools campaign
contributions from members and donates those contributions to campaigns for
or against candidates or ballot measures.
N. "Party Committee" means the state central committee or county central
committee of an organization that meets the requirements for recognition as a
political party pursuant to Section 5100 or 5151 of the Elections Code.
2.75.030 Campaign Contributions — Limitations and Exclusions.
A. Contributions by individuals to candidates or controlled committees. No
individual shall make any contribution to a candidate and/or the candidate's
controlled committee, with respect to any single City election, which will cause
the total amount contributed by such individual to the candidate and the
candidate's controlled committee, when combined, to exceed $1000.00 in a
calendar year.
B. Acceptance or solicitation by candidates or controlled committees from
individuals. No candidate or controlled committee, including the candidate's
campaign treasurer, shall solicit or accept any contribution from any individual
with respect to any single City election, which will cause the total amount
contributed by such individual to the candidate and the candidate's controlled
committee, when combined, to exceed $1,000.00 in a calendar year.
C. Contributions by candidates. The provisions of subsections A and B of this
section shall not apply to contributions from a candidate to his or her controlled
committee, nor to the expenditure by the candidate of his or her personal funds
on behalf of his or her own candidacy.
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D. Contributions by political party committees, political action committees and
independent committees to candidates or controlled committees. No political
party committee, political action committee or independent committee, shall
make any contribution to a candidate and/or the candidate's controlled
committee, with respect to any single City election, which will cause the total
amount contributed to the candidate and the candidate's controlled committee,
when combined, to exceed $2,000 in a calendar year.
E. Acceptance or solicitation by candidates or controlled committees from political
party committees, political action committees and independent committees.
No candidate or controlled committee, including the candidate's campaign
treasurer, shall solicit or accept any contribution from any political party
committee, political action committee, or independent committee, with respect
to any single City election, which will cause the total amount accepted by such
political party committee, political action committee, or independent committee
to the candidate and the candidate's controlled committee, when combined, to
exceed $2,000 in a calendar year.
F. Family contributions. Contributions by spouses shall be treated as separate
contributions and shall not be aggregated. Contributions by children under 18
years of age shall be treated as contributions attributed equally to each parent
or guardian.
G. Applicability of section to candidate and committees. The provisions of this
section are applicable to any contributions made to a candidate or controlled
committee whether used by such candidate or controlled committee to finance
a current campaign, to pay debts incurred in prior campaigns, or otherwise.
H. Contributions by city contractors. No individual who contracts with the City of
National City, either for the rendition of personal services or for the furnishing
of any materials, supplies, or equipment to the City, or for the sale or lease of
any land or building, to or from the City, shall make any contribution to a City
candidate or controlled committee at any time between the commencement of
negotiations for and (i) the completion of performance of such contract or (ii)
the termination of negotiations for such contract, whichever occurs later.
I. Contributions from City employees.
1. It is unlawful for a candidate or a candidate's controlled committee, to solicit,
directly or indirectly, a contribution from a City employee with knowledge that
the person from whom the contribution is solicited is a City employee.
2. This subsection shall not prohibit a candidate or a candidate's controlled
committee from soliciting contributions from City employees if the solicitation is
part of a solicitation made to a significant segment of the public that may
include City employees, and the solicitation does not otherwise violate the
provisions of this chapter.
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3. Nothing in this subsection prohibits a City employee from making a
contribution to a candidate, and nothing in this subsection prohibits a candidate
from accepting a contribution from a City employee.
4. As used in this subsection, the term "City employee" means any employee
of the City of National City (City) or any of its organizational subdivisions,
agencies, offices, boards, or commissions.
J. Aggregation of contributions from different individuals financed, maintained, or
controlled by same individual. Contributions from different individuals, but
which are financed, maintained, or controlled by the same individual, shall be
aggregated for purposes of the contribution limits of subsections A and B of
this section. All contributions made by an individual whose contribution activity
is financed, maintained, or controlled by an individual, shall be deemed to be
made by the same individual.
K. A contribution drawn from a checking account or credit card account held by
an individual doing business as a sole proprietorship is considered a
contribution from that individual for purposes of this subsection, and may
lawfully be received by a candidate for elected City office. A non -monetary
contribution in the form of goods and services donated by an individual doing
business as a sole proprietorship is considered a contribution from that
individual for purposes of this subsection, and may lawfully be received by a
candidate for elective City office.
L. Adjustments for cost of living. The campaign contribution limits and contribution
acceptance and solicitation limits specified in subsections A, B, C and D of this
section shall be adjusted in February of each odd -numbered year commencing
in 2023, for changes in the Consumer Price Index (CPI) over the previous two-
year period. The City Clerk shall apply the annual percent change in the CPI
for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) for the San Diego Metropolitan Area to
determine the appropriate rate of increase or decrease. Adjustments made
pursuant to this subsection shall be rounded to the nearest $5.00.
2.75.040 Campaign Expenditures - Uncontrolled by Candidate or Committee.
Persons or organizations not subject to the control of a candidate or committee, but who make
independent expenditures for or against a candidate or committee, shall indicate clearly on
any material published, displayed, or broadcast the names of the persons or organizations
who made the expenditures, the true names of any persons on whose behalf the expenditures
were made, and that the expenditures were not authorized by a candidate or committee.
2.75.050 Retention of Records. The candidate, committee, or authorized agent
thereof shall retain all campaign records for a period of three (3) years after the election.
2.75.060 Electioneering. It is unlawful for any person to participate in electioneering
as a candidate, for a candidate, committee, or any other election campaign on City -owned
property or at a City -hosted or City -sponsored event. This includes, but is not limited to, any
of the following:
A. A display of a candidate's name, likeness, or logo.
B. A display of a ballot measure number, title, subject, or logo.
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C. Distribution of buttons, hats, pencils, pens, shirts, signs, or stickers containing
electioneering information.
D. Dissemination of audible electioneering information.
2.75.070 City Measures - Exemptions. This chapter shall not apply to contributions
or expenditures by a person or committee on behalf of a committee supporting or opposing a
City measure.
2.75.080 Duties of City Clerk. In addition to other duties of the City Clerk under the
terms of this chapter, the City Clerk must:
A. Supply appropriate forms and manuals prescribed by the California Fair
Political Practices Commission (FPPC). These forms and manuals must be
furnished to all candidates and committees, and to all other persons required
to report;
B. Determine whether required documents have been filed, and if so, whether
they conform with the requirements of state law;
C. Notify promptly all persons and known committees who have failed to file a
document in the form and at the time required by state law;
D. Report apparent violations of this chapter and applicable state law to the
Enforcement Authority;
E. Compile and maintain a current list of all statements or parts of statements filed
with the City Clerk's office pertaining to each candidate and each measure;
F. Cooperate with the City Attorney and Enforcement Authority in the performance
of the duties of the Enforcement Authority as prescribed in this chapter and
applicable state laws.
2.75.090 Effect of Receipt of Funds on Voting. Within twelve (12) months after
receiving income totaling $1,000.00 or more from any source, no holder of elective City Office
shall make, participate in making, or attempt to influence, any government decision or action
that will have a reasonably foreseeable material financial effect on any source of income that
is distinguishable from its effect on the public generally, or on a significant segment of the
public, as defined in the Political Reform Act of 1974.
2.75.100 Enforcement Authority.
A. Role of City Attorney. The City Attorney shall not investigate or prosecute any
alleged violations of this chapter, but shall defend the constitutionality and
legality of this chapter in any civil proceedings in which the City or City Council
is a party.
B. Role of special counsel. Review of complaints of violation of this chapter and
criminal prosecution, shall be conducted only by special counsel who shall be
the District Attorney, the Attorney General, or such other qualified and
independent special counsel, or combination of the foregoing, as may be
appointed by the City Attorney. All special counsel shall have the authority to
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prosecute any and all Municipal Code violations of this chapter. However,
special counsel other than the Attorney General or District Attorney, shall not
have authority to prosecute matters exclusively within the powers of the
Attorney General or District Attorney under Government Code Section 91001.
Special counsel shall also conduct civil litigation to compel compliance with this
chapter or to enjoin conduct in violation of this chapter, and shall conduct
administrative enforcement under Section 2.75.120 of this chapter.
C. Appointment of special counsel. At least ninety (90) days prior to a City
election, special counsel shall be appointed by the City Attorney. Should the
appointment of additional special counsel become necessary or appropriate,
the City Attorney may appoint such additional special counsel as may be
required. The appointment of special counsel shall be in writing, and copies of
the written appointment shall be provided to the City Council, City Manager,
and City Clerk. The cost of special counsel shall be paid from the City general
fund. Any activity by the special counsel in accordance with this chapter, shall
not be subject to review or control by the City Attorney or City Council.
D. Initiation of investigations. Any person residing in the City who believes that a
violation of this chapter has occurred, may file a written complaint requesting
investigation of such violation by the special counsel. If the special counsel
determines that there is reason to believe a violation of this chapter has
occurred, the special counsel shall conduct an investigation and may
commence such civil criminal, or administrative legal action as he or she deems
necessary for the enforcement of this chapter.
E. Investigative powers of special counsel. The special counsel shall have such
investigative powers as are necessary for the performance of duties described
in this article, and may be furnished records of campaign contributions and
expenditures of any person or committee. In the event that production of such
records is refused, the special counsel may commence civil litigation to compel
such production.
F. Immunity of special counsel. The special counsel shall be immune from liability
for enforcement of this chapter.
2.75.110 Enforcement — Criminal or Civil Liability.
A. Criminal and civil liability. Any knowing or willful violation of any provision of
this chapter may be prosecuted either as an infraction or misdemeanor, at the
discretion of the prosecutor. In addition to any other penalty provided by law,
any willful or knowing failure to report truthfully any contribution or expenditure,
shall be punishable by a fine of not less than $1,000.00. The campaign
treasurer of any committee shall be both criminally and civilly liable for any
violation of this article by the committee. In addition, the candidate shall be
both criminally and civilly liable for any violation by a committee controlled by
the candidate.
B. Forfeiture of contributions. In any legal action brought under this chapter for
injunctive relief or civil liability, where it is determined that a candidate or
committee has accepted a contribution or contributions in excess of the
applicable limits set forth in this chapter, the full amount of said contribution(s)
shall be forfeited to the City's general fund. If funds are not available in the
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election campaign account for this purpose, the candidate or campaign
treasurer shall be personally liable to pay said amount to the City's general
fund.
2.75.120 Enforcement — Administrative
A. Additional to other remedies. The remedies provided for by this section are in
addition to all other legal remedies, civil or criminal, which may be pursued by
the City to address any violation of this chapter.
B. Notice and order. Whenever the special counsel appointed pursuant to Section
2.75.100, determines that there is probable cause that a violation of one or
more provisions of this chapter has occurred or exists, a written notice and
order may be issued to the alleged violator.
C. Contents of notice and order. The notice and order shall refer to the code
section violated and describe how the sections are or have been violated, and
the dates of all violations. The notice and order shall also state a date, time
and place for a hearing which shall be held no fewer than ten (10) days
following service of the notice.
D. Service of Notice and Order. The notice and order shall be served upon the
alleged violator by personal service, or by certified mail, with postage prepaid
and return receipt requested.
E. Designation of Hearing Officer. The City Attorney shall designate a hearing
officer, who shall not be a City employee. The compensation of the hearing
officer, if any, shall be paid by the City. The retention and compensation of the
hearing officer shall not be directly or indirectly conditioned upon the outcome
of the hearing.
F. Violation established by preponderance of evidence. At the hearing, the
hearing officer shall consider whether a preponderance of evidence
demonstrates the existence of a violation.
G. Conduct of Hearing. Hearings shall be conducted in an expeditious manner to
enable all interested parties to present relevant evidence. Formal rules of
evidence shall not be applied. Time limits for presenting evidence, order of
testimony, handling of exhibits, and similar matters, shall be determined at the
discretion of the hearing officer. The alleged violator or any other interested
persons may present testimony or documentary evidence concerning the
existence of the violations, and the alleged violator may cross-examine
witnesses. The hearing officer may continue the hearing to obtain additional
evidence, or for other good cause.
H. Failure to attend hearing. Failure of the alleged violator to attend the hearing
shall constitute an admission of the violation by the alleged violator and a failure
to exhaust administrative remedies that may bar judicial review.
I. Decision by hearing officer. After considering all the testimony and the
evidence submitted at the hearing, the hearing officer shall issue a written
decision, including findings regarding the existence of each violation, the
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reasons for the decision, and providing notice of the right to judicial review.
The written decision shall be issued within thirty (30) days of the conclusion of
the hearing, and served on the alleged violator within ten (10) days of its
issuance. The decision shall be final upon service upon the alleged violator,
subject only to judicial review as permitted by law.
J. Imposition of penalty. If the hearing officer finds by a preponderance of the
evidence that the alleged violator committed the violation, the hearing officer
shall impose a penalty and a date the penalty and any costs of the hearing shall
be due and payable by the violator.
K. Amount of penalty. The administrative penalty for a violation of this chapter
shall be a maximum $1,000.00 per violation, and the maximum total penalty
shall not exceed $10,000.00. In determining the amount of penalty to be
imposed, the hearing officer shall consider the following factors: duration of the
violation, frequency of recurrence of the violation, seriousness of the violation,
history of violations, good faith effort of the violator to correct the violation,
economic effect of the violation on the violator, impact of the violation on the
community and the City, and any other relevant factors that justice may require.
L. Failure to pay penalty. Upon the failure of any person to pay the assessed
administrative penalty by the date specified in the hearing officer's decision,
the unpaid amount shall constitute a personal obligation of the violator. The
City Attorney shall collect the obligation by use of any appropriate legal means.
M. Judicial review. Any person subject to the decision of the hearing officer, may
obtain judicial review of the decision pursuant to the provisions of Government
Code Section 53069.4.
2.75.130 Civil Actions by Residents.
A. Any resident of the City may bring a civil action regarding the provisions of this
chapter, as follows:
1. To enjoin an actual or threatened violation;
2. To compel compliance by a private person;
3. To obtain declaratory relief.
B. Any action brought under this Section 2.75.130, shall be commenced within
six (6) months of the time the alleged violation occurred.
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2.75.140 Time for Commencement of Actions. Except as provided in Section
2.75.130, any action brought alleging violation of this chapter must be commenced within two
(2) years of the date of the alleged violation.
Section 2. That this Ordinance shall become effective on January 1, 2021.
PASSED and ADOPTED this 19th day of May, 2020.
ATTEST:
Michael R. Dalla, y Clerk
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
or is -Jones
Attorney
Alejandra Sotelo-Solis, Mayor
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Passed and adopted by the Council of the City of National City, California, on
May 19, 2020 by the following vote, to -wit:
Ayes: Councilmembers Cano, Quintero, Rios, Sotelo-Solis.
Nays: Morrison.
Absent: None.
Abstain: None.
AUTHENTICATED BY: ALEJANDRA SOTELO-SOLIS
By:
Mayor of the City of National City, California
City Clerk of the City of National City, California
a4AIPAPZ"
eputy
I HEREBY CERTIFY that the foregoing Ordinance was not finally adopted until seven
calendar days had elapsed between the day of its introduction and the day of its final
passage, to wit, on May 8, 2020 and on May 19, 2020.
I FURTHER CERTIFY THAT said Ordinance was read in full prior to its final passage or
that the reading of said Ordinance in full was dispensed with by a vote of not less than
a majority of the members elected to the Council and that there was available for the
consideration of each member of the Council and the public prior to the day of its
passage a written or printed copy of said Ordinance.
I FURTHER CERTIFY that the above and foregoing is a full, true and correct copy of
ORDINANCE NO. 2020-2482 of the City Council of the City of National City, passed
and adopted by the Council of said City on May 19, 2020.
By:
City Clerk of the City of National City, California
Deputy